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Judge Cowlin Hit with Campaign Literature Lack of ID Complaint

Steve Reick discovered two years ago that campaign pieces must tell who paid for it.

One of his opponent State Rep. Jack Franks’ supporters complained that Reick’s billboard did not give that information.

One of Steve Reick’s billboard from 2014.

In the next billboard, Rieck put what you see below in the bottom right hand corner:

Don’t you love campaigns that have a sense of humor? This appears to the far right under the “M” in web site you see below.

Now Judge James Cowlin has been hit with a similar complaint.

Cynthia Schenk, the woman who filed the complaint at the McHenry County Ethics Commission that was shunted aside before even reaching the Commission because its Chairman decided that since it was a complaint against a Judge that the Commission did not have jurisdiction, has filed this complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The bottom of the Steve Reick billboard.

In her complaint, Schenk says the “mailer fails to disclose the identity or wo (SIC) it is that paid for the mailer in violation of state law.”

The process server swore the following:

“I served this Complaint on the person picture on the first page of the attached exhibit, James Cowlin. Judge Cowlin cam to the door opening the interior door and he asked me why I was there, I responded that I had something for him. He said let me see it. I showed him the complaint and he repsonded he already had it and closed the door. I left it between the doors.”

The attachments follow:

The mailing posted on McHenry County Blog was the one that came to my mailbox.

This post is directed at Boethius. I am the campaign manager for Demetri’s campaign. Your cowardly anonymous attack is an attack on me. As such, this communication serves address your specious position. Since Demetri started this Campaign he has taken the high road.

I challenge you to point to anything we have circulated be it his mailers, signs, or radio ads that is an attack on judge Cowlin.

You Can’t because we have not.

During this campaign I called Mr Wright to alert him to a conflict where Judge Cowlin was speaking at a location where Demetri was also addressing his supporters.

I agreed to have the restaurant take down our signs and had no signs there so judge Cowlin could make his address without problems and and did so to ensure that he would be comfortable addressing his audience.

I even wished him well this last Saturday when both candidates were at a church fundraiser.

Our radio ads do not attack judge Cowlin.

Our written material represents Demetri’s rationale for asking the voters to vote for Demetri.

That sir, is a clean campaign. Demetri has followed the law.

No complaint was made against Demetri for this issue.

I’m sure if roles were reversed I’m Confident Mrs Schenk would filed a complaint against us.

I have seen the articles published in this Blog about what is alleged to go on in the courthouse and what is not on campaign material.

None of those allegations originate from Demetri.

They appear to originate in the courthouse itself or from the campaign material itself.

Similarly, I would expect judge Cowlin’s campaign to rebut the allegations if they are false.

I am not aware of any official position by judge Cowlin or his campaign on these points.

So Boethius, when you are man enough to identify yourself and then toss about falsities like calling this the dirtiest campaign ever, I hope you can point to a single thing Demetri has done that is dirty.

Until then, I will give your comments the same respect as any lying coward.

Boethius: there is not one person including yourself that doubts that Mr. Schenk and the rest of the Cowlin camp would not hesitate to file a complaint against Demetri if he had violated election code / laws like Cowlin has.

Furthermore it is not Demetri’s problem that Cowlin’s campaign team consists of lawyers and no one knows the codes/laws?

“Rob, when you say, “I’m sure if roles were reversed I’m Confident Mrs Schenk would filed a complaint against us,” I’m not entirely convinced. Be honest with us: what role did you have in preparing these ethics complaints?”

Wow Boethius, talk about paranoia, making a statement with such an allegation that when you consider it came from you, it has no credibility.

Gosh, have you seen any of those black helicopters lately? AZsupporter, claims to have seen them and even said they’re pretty

As far as Rebecca Lee, the people have many valid complaints about her role as it relates the Courthouse, McHenry County Politics and Judge Cowlin.